Setting Up Your Router

Introduction To Routers

Wi-Fi Routers are the backbone of your personal network. It is the gateway from your home to the outside world. Everything you do online will ultimately filter through your router. A well configured quality router will provide you with a more reliable online experience.

Types of Routers

Wi-Fi Routers have been continuously updated over the years as specifications have improved. Newer routers on newer specifications tend to have more reliable and faster connections than routers that are several years older.A single powerful router is probably going to be the simplest to setup, but might have limited range or “dead spots” depending on the size of the area you want to cover.Some Routers come with little satellite routers to create what is known as a “mesh network”. These routers have one main router, and you can place the satellite routers farther away from the main router. This allows you to cover a larger area with Wi-Fi. The tradeoff is these can be more complicated to setup and troubleshoot, and have more moving parts to fail. Whether or not the tradeoff is worth it is entirely up to you and your needs.

Configure Your Router

Since this is the Red-Spectrum Communications blog we will describe configuring your router to work best on the Red-Spectrum Communications network. However these setup settings are broadly applicable.Whether you are using a single router or a router that sets up a mesh network, the configuration for Red-Spectrum Communications should be the same. The following are the types of configuration settings you may come across with your router.

Wi-Fi SSID

The name you want to use for you Wi-Fi network. This is what will showup on your devices for you to select and connect to. Typically on a device or computer when you click this you will be asked to enter a password to connect to the Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi Password

The password you want to connect devices to your Wi-Fi network. Always have a strong, unique password to prevent unauthorized access.

The encryption standard

The router needs to know how keep your password a secret. Always choose WPA2 or WPA3 for the best security. WPA3 is the newest and provides improved security over WPA2.

Channel and Bandwidth

Channel and Bandwidth: Wi-Fi routers can broadcast on different channels and bandwidths. For 2.4 GHz, channels 1, 6, and 11 are most commonly recommended to avoid interference. For 5 GHz, there's less congestion, but choosing a channel can still improve performance. Auto-settings can work, but manual selection might be beneficial in crowded areas.

Guest Network

Consider setting up a guest network. This is a separate access point for guests to connect to the internet, keeping your main network secure. You can set a different SSID and password for this network.

Parental Controls

If you have children, you might want to use parental controls. These can help manage what content can be accessed through your network and at what times.

Firmware Updates

Firmware Updates: Keeping your router's firmware up to date is crucial for security and performance. Check for updates regularly or enable automatic updates if your router supports it.

Quality of Service

QoS (Quality of Service): This setting allows you to prioritize certain types of traffic over others. For example, you might want to prioritize video streaming or gaming to ensure a smooth experience.

IPv6

If your ISP supports it, enabling IPv6 can offer a range of benefits, including a vast number of IP addresses and improved routing and auto-configuration.

Firewall and Security Settings

Firewall and Security Settings: Ensure your router's firewall is enabled. You can also look into additional security settings your router might offer, like disabling WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), which is known to have vulnerabilities.

DHCP Settings

DHCP Settings: DHCP assigns IP addresses to devices on your network. You might want to assign static IP addresses to certain devices, like printers or gaming consoles, for easier management.

Mac Address Filtering

This is a more advanced feature where you can allow or deny devices to connect to your network based on their MAC address. It adds an extra layer of security but can be cumbersome to manage with many devices.